28
During the space of time which intervened between the time I had the
vision and the year eighteen hundred and twenty-three—having been
forbidden to join any of the religious sects of the day, and being of
very tender years, and persecuted by those who ought to have been my
friends and to have treated me kindly, and if they supposed
me to be deluded to have endeavored in a proper and affectionate manner
to have reclaimed me—I was left to all kinds of temptations; and,
mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish
errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human
nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations,
offensive in the sight of God. In making this confession, no one need suppose
me guilty of any great or malignant sins. A disposition to commit such
was never in my nature. But I was guilty of levity, and sometimes
associated with jovial company, etc., not consistent with that character
which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God as I had
been. But this will not seem very strange to any one who recollects my
youth, and is acquainted with my native cheery temperament.
No comments:
Post a Comment